Israeli president praises UK rabbi in veiled swipe at Corbyn

FILE - In this Tuesday Jan. 27, 2015 file photo, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis gives a speech as he attends a Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony at Central Hall Westminster, in London. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has praised Britains chief rabbi and expressed support for an article he wrote this week that offered scathing criticism of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyns record on anti-Semitism. Rivlin met with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis in London on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, file)

LONDON – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has praised Britain’s chief rabbi and expressed support for an article he wrote this week that offered scathing criticism of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s record on anti-Semitism.

Rivlin met with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis in London on Wednesday. His office says he expressed support for Mirvis’ work, including his recent article in The Times newspaper in which he said “a new poison, sanctioned from the top, has taken root in the Labour Party.”

Rivlin says there is “no room for anti-Semitism in the halls of power.” He adds that Mirvis’ “clear voice and leadership, particularly in the last few days, fills us all with pride.”